Fresh install of XP - Which MPEG 2 codec should I install?

[mojo]

So I just installed Win XP Pro and I want to keep my system as clean as possible... that means not installing tons of codecs!!

What do you guys recommend for my MPEG2 codec... I need to be able to watch MPEG 2 videos and encode SVCD/DVD with TMPGENC.

It doesn't have to be free, I don't mind paying a little for a codec that is clean, good quality and trouble-free!

Any other suggestions you might have on codecs I should and should not install is appreciated. So far I'm only installed Xvid and Divx.

Thanks!

[budz]

I installed the panasonic codec on my windows xp pro pc and so far no problems.

[redwudz]

For MPEG-2, I usually just install PowerDVD and use the codec from it. I beleive even if you uninstall the program, the codec remains. For a free MPEG-2 codec, try Stinkys MPEG2 Codec.

[jimmalenko]

For MPEG-2, I usually just install PowerDVD and use the codec from it. I beleive even if you uninstall the program, the codec remains. For a free MPEG-2 codec, try Stinkys MPEG2 Codec.

PowerDVD here too.

[guns1inger]

Media Player Classic is a free alternative

[dipstick]

Media Player Classic for sure!

No need for codecs. Plus, if you encode your videos to elemental streams (m2v + ac3) with the same name (video.m2v + video.ac3), you can just drag the video.m2v into Media Player Classic and it will also pickup the audio and play it.